LATE BREAKING NEWS FROM TOBIAS:
JEFF MCBRIDE on TWO (COUNT ‘EM) TV SERIES THIS SEASON
We told you in our last letter about Jeff’s upcoming featured role on the new reality TV series for VH-1. We still can’t tell you much more about it, except that Jeff is at the Magic Castle right now, preparing with the team for the tapings, which will occur over the next 6 weeks or so. In the meantime, Jeff has just reminded us he’ll probably be the only magician this fall to be seen on not one, but two different series: the one now taping on VH-1, and with Criss Angel on Mindfreak on A&E.
MORE NEWS OF THE DAY: MAGIC & MEANING
News flash! From England, special guest Jon Randall, the editor of Pentacle Magazine, the UK’s leading independent pagan magazine, will present an expose of fraudulent mediums and sham psychics as a special addition to the Magic and Meaning Conference in Las Vegas, October 24-27.
Not only that, but I’ve just been added to the schedule doing a special lecture workshop on my own about to be released book, Beyond Deception, presenting techniques you can use to jumpstart your own creative process and create power original magic. The book itself won’t be available for purchase until 2-3 weeks after the conference, but I’ll have galley copies you can check out during Magic & Meaning.
And now, on to our regularly scheduled Museletter!
“For in and out, above, about, below, ‘Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show, Play’d in a Box whose Candle is the Sun, Round which we Phantom Figures come and go.”
— Omar Khayyam
Greetings Magical Friends,
THE MAGIC AND MEANING CONFERENCE Oct 24 – 27, 2007
Magicians and storytellers from all over the world are coming to what we think of as “The Mystery School Reunion,” also known as The Magic & Meaning Conference! Along with many shows, lectures, and works in progress this event will feature special guest presenters, performers and lecturers, including:
George Parker from the Netherlands. George is a fine motivational speaker and magician, who weaves inspiration and metaphor into his presentations. He is going to teach us some of the tools of his art.
Larry Hass, Professor of Philosophy at Muhlenberg College. Larry is an award-winning teacher of phenomenology, aesthetics, magic performance, and magic theory. He is also the Founding Director of the Theory and Art of Magic program—an ongoing educational symposium that brings the world’s greatest magicians to the campus to perform, lecture, and teach about their amazing art.
WITCHES AND WIZARDS, OH MY!!!
Also at the Magic and Meaning conference: attendees will celebrate the season with the LAS VEGAS WITCHES AND WIZARDS BALL with live DJ Sylvia Brallier, special performances and an outrageous midnight seance by master storyteller Eugene Burger. Creative costumes welcomed and encouraged, but not required.
For more info, go to http://vegasvortex.com/pages/FallFest
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Our friend and magic student Tom Mesoroll has just published a very fine book: Magus, Master of Martial Magic, Book 1. A recent reviewer wrote that “It has the potential to be thought provoking rather than just entertaining, and the science behind it may be more realistic than one realizes. It is a very interesting blend of Magic, Martial Arts, and Quantum Physics. That in itself makes for a most unusual concept, and Tom, being involved with and quite knowledgeable about all three topics, pulls them together in a very entertaining manner. With many references to Magic, such as The Castle, and actual practitioners like Eugene Burger, Jeff McBride, and others, and then delving into some rather esoteric theories of Physics, this book is much more than a simple novel.”
And, of course, the great Eugene Burger:
“A fabulous tale incorporating Magic, Martial arts and Eastern Philosophy. I loved it! Tom Meseroll has managed to meld the many forms and philosphies of magic into a marvelous tale of good and evil. I can’t wait for the sequel!!”
Tom is offering to sell you a signed and numbered limited edition copy via his web page: http://www.martialmagician.com
MCBRIDE ON MINDFREAK!
In case you missed Jeff on Criss Angel’s MINDFREAK, doing a very special fire initiation with Criss, you can see it here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=B9xq52x4Sh0
Special thanks to Jordan Wright for editing this together!
We’ll look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas at one of our upcoming events or classes.
Your friends in magic,
Jeff & Abbi McBride
“There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.â€
— Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking
SHHH! JEFF IS ABOUT TO BEGIN TAPING A NEW SERIES WITH VH1. IT’S ALL VERY HUSH HUSH – BUT WE’LL FILL YOU IN ON THE DETAILS JUST AS SOON AS WE CAN!
Greetings Friends,
I wish I could tell you all about it – but for the moment suffice it to say I’m very excited to be working with the folks at VH1 on what promises to be a very exciting project.
BACK FROM THE EDGE
It’s strange to think that I’ve been performing for Donald Trump for almost twenty years. I started at “the Donald’s†birthday party bash in 1988. I was the opening act with co-stars Liza Minnelli and Billy Crystal. Now, almost twenty years later, I am the headliner and Liza is appearing next door at Trump Plaza…. Feels like we’ve made it to the top!
All of us here at McBride Magic have continued our
magical relationship with the Trump organization and it was a pleasure to be the featured headliner this summer. Here is a photo of our magic company, including Abbi and Jordan Wright, in front of our gigantic billboard, on the way into town.
What I learned on my summer vacation; give your audience more than they expect! The biggest improvement in our show this season was adding one extra hour of pre-show street magic and improvisation before the show. Our audiences, made up of old and new friends, were able to share more magical time with our cast, not only before the show, but after the show as well. Abbi, Jordan, and I were blessed to have many of our Magic and Mystery School students join in the pre-show festivities. Hats off to: Chad Juros, RJ Lewis, Michael Carbonaro, Michael Trixx, Mike Hankins, Russ Clark, Benjamin Corey, and many others, for helping to make the show wonderful!
Magic at the Edge also hosted a post-show friends and fans
party in the lobby outside the theater after each show. Not only did this give us an opportunity to meet and greet and spend more time with our friends, we also utilized the pre- and post-show parties to work in new material that will be featured in next season’s shows.
Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, delight the heart. And they both take practice.
— Nora Roberts
BACK TO SCHOOL
I learned a lot of new lessons about interactive street magic and walk around mentalism this summer… knowledge and wisdom that I will share with you at our next class! You can learn a lot about your potential audience participants by just meeting and greeting them before the show, seeing if they make and hold eye contact, and how energetically or softly they shake your hand. With younger audience members, seven to teen, I ask them “Are you a big magic fan?†If their eyes light up, and they energetically shake their head yes, they are more likely to find their way on stage. I also, in casino environments, pay very close attention to the kind of beverages that are in front of people who I am considering for selection. I never select audience participants or “volunteers†without meeting them and engaging them in conversation before the show. I suggest, if you are doing a stage show, to take the time, pre-show, to meet and greet your audience participants. I feel that this is one of the most important lessons I can share with you.
Abbi and I will be working out of our home base here at the Magic and Mystery School for September and October. If you’re going to be in town, check the www.magicalwisdom.com site and book your private session, or scheduled Master Class. We’ll look forward to seeing you soon!
Your friends in magic,
Jeff & Abbi
QUICK NOTE FROM TOBIAS:
As luck would have it, we still have 2 slots left for the September Master class. This is the last non-themed class of the year. It’s the perfect time to tune up your act for the holidays, and to spend some time thinking and learning about the best ways to promote those holiday season shows. Be there!
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com